Colin D. Stolle, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, announced today that Andrew M. VanVleet, 25 years old, formerly of the 1600 block of Hedgerow Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia, was formally sentenced by Circuit Court Judge William R. O’Brien for charges of Unlawful Wounding, Abduction, and Assault and Battery of a Family Member-3rd Offense. On October 23, 2013, a jury found VanVleet guilty of these charges and fixed his punishment at 15 years in prison. Today, Judge O’Brien formally imposed that sentence.

The Commonwealth’s evidence proved that between March 24 and 26, 2013, Andrew M. VanVleet physically assaulted his girlfriend at the home where they rented two rooms in the city of Virginia Beach. VanVleet punched her in the face, shook her, choked her, and pulled her hair. The victim suffered a fracture to her orbital wall, memory loss, and bruising to her face, jaw, arms, and torso. She was brought to the hospital twice following the abuse, first by family members and then by rescue. Virginia Beach police began to investigate the victim’s injuries and determined that they were caused by her boyfriend during a fight.

VanVleet has two prior convictions for Assault and Battery of a Family Member. Further, he has convictions for Receiving Stolen Property, Grand Larceny, Credit Card Fraud, Credit Card Forgery, Conspiracy, and Petit Larceny.